nismax1994

I've been lurking on this board forever. I was given my 1994 Maxima GXE in 1998 for my first car. It had around 70k on it.

I'm not very mechanical, but I have changed the oil every 3-4k with mobil 1. I blew the transmission in 2002 and had it rebuilt and thereafter drain and filled with mobil 1 atf every 30k. I really wanted it to last forever and always told friends it will be in my garage when I'm an old man. The paint is great except for the hood and front bumper. The interior is very clean. The suspension is shot, I mean really shot. The brakes are spongy. I only drive it twice a month now to circulate the fluids.

I think it's time for me to let it go. But every time I began to think about selling it, I just get nauseated and can't make a decision. I'm not very interested in it nowadays, it was a very good car and still would be good had I put it in the shop as needed over the last few years. I should sell it. I can't.

I used to love it so much and read the .org daily. I'm afraid as soon as it's gone I will regret it.

Any advice from others who've dealt with this?

chrome91

iTrader: (1)

fix it up and daily it probably just needs a bit of suspension work and a master cylinder

4th gen maxi

iTrader: (1)

Very depressing post I regret parting out mine everyday lol
Shell never forgive me...
Maybe you should let someone more mechanical inclined orger take it off your hands.

dealsgap

I have thought the exact same thing..

My 94 is at 220,000 and I drive it monthly from Georgia to Kentucky..

Just did the valve cover gaskets/wheel cylinders/struts/power steering rack/to name a few things..I drive it like granny because I know the tranny is its weakest link (still has the original). So far ..so good (knock on wood)..

I know some one who will give me $500 for it but it runs so good right now and its basically free transportation (except for insurance/upkeep)..

It's a hard decision to make, but eventually I will probably just have to let her go but for now I'm going to get my money back I've put into her by running her..up and down the interstate..

Good Luck whatever you decide..

1990se5speed

Don't sell it u will regret it

ac max 92

iTrader: (13)

Put some new struts on it and try bleeding the brake lines. Keep it as a project car you can learn on but if you don't have the resources I.e tools then take it to a shop because of course you have a great source of info. Here on the org. One thing at a time. Any used car or new for that matter will have it's problems and need some TLC and maintenance and it doesn't sound like you have a ton of issues and to boot you have pretty low km or miles by the sounds of it. I'd say keep her n fix her up but in the end the choice is yours your only going to get others opinions in a matter like yours.

nismax1994

OK it is for sale. I'm working on an ad in the classified section. I'm offering it for $700 to the .org. If it doesn't sell here I might ask a bit more on craigslist. I really want to see it go to a member here.

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Hectic

iTrader: (20)

Put it in a container, bury it in the ground, buy something else and dig it up when you miss it.

nismax1994

That would be ideal.

khakuda

Have the exact same car with 105,000 miles. Put about two grand in over the last two years for new fuel injectors, exhaust system, timing and water pump. So glad I did as it's been problem free otherwise. Have gotten good at ripping the door panels open and replacing the window motor regulators myself over the years. And I'll have to probably rip out that Bose stereo yet again and put in aftermarket radio.

Over the years I've had to replace the alternator, radiator, A/C and suspension. I figure I'm in for about $27,000 including original purchase price, but excluding normal wear items. To have had a reliable car for 20 years and running, it has been totally worth it. No one can believe the thing is 20 years old.

Your picture looks great. It looks like a seven-year-old car in your engine bay.

Augustus Maximus

iTrader: (6)

Looks great. I remember when I used to love these are cars, the VE specifically so much so that though the car is gone I still have a VE30DE with harness and ECU taking up space.
Sell it to someone who is more enthusiastic about it than you are at this point. It's ok to move on.

MaximaDrvr

iTrader: (1)

I got rid of my '91 in 2005. I still miss it.
But, after the second transmission ate itself, at 160k, it was time to call it quits.
With such low mileage, yours is a real find. Under $1k investment and it will be great.

If I needed another car, I would be all over yours, as I'm semi-local.

I went to VW for a while, but now I'm in an 09 Maxima, so I came back to the family.

Augustus Maximus

iTrader: (6)

Rear wheel Nissan is the beesneez...I love the third gen CAS, igniter, radiator fans, alternator etc. I'm running a boosted 93 Max VG30, no traction until 4th gear mang.
Of course Nistune and Supra injectors got something to do with that.

maximo018

iTrader: (6)

See this is why I will never get rid of mine.

Augustus Maximus

iTrader: (6)

Sloppy 3rd gen seat belt caused me intestinal damage. I love em and I hate em.

nismax1994

I'm going to wait and see how I feel once the Camry is paid off and I have some extra money for the repairs, really about $2k would put it right.

maximagician

my what a strange coolant bottle you have,lol
and what is that hose with the foil next to it and under the upper rad. hose?

shiloh51933

iTrader: (5)

Keep that clean *** 3rdgen...

nismax1994

OEM coolant bottle came loose and got eat up by the belts. The foil covered hose is the A/C line I never liked how close it is to the header. I drove the car a lot yesterday, since the injectors are all operating again it was a pretty nice drive!

maximagician

oh okay its insulation for the A\C line,thats a good idea,imma do dat too.

shiloh51933

iTrader: (5)

From the factory those lines actually came with an insulation wrapped around the hard lines. I'm sure you could hook something up similar to factory that would look better to the eye.

ConCon

iTrader: (1)

Damn...why can't you be in CA i'd buy it. LOL Honestly though I wouldn't sell. That is super low mileage and you are going to regret it. No matter what you buy your going to spend money on maintenance and upkeep so why not spend it on the car you love and already know the issues it has. Anyway good luck she really is a nice looking car hope you have a lot of pics of her to cry over if you do sell it lol.

carsnwomen91

i would sell it and try to get into a 4g. vq30 with the 4spd auto will never die. i miss the look of mine

nismax1994

It doesn't have low miles...had 70k on it in '98 when I bought it. She now has 350,900.

Cliff Clavin

iTrader: (11)

I miss my car pretty much every day. It's even worse that I have not found anything to replace it with. I get on CL and start looking at cars sometimes for hours in all parts of the country.

We are preparing to sell our house and I don't need the extra headache, but I want to be ready if the right car comes around. It will still take a long time to mentally replace the Maxima, though.

doubleclutch92

This sticks out to me so much. I have contemplated getting rid of my VE 5spd for years now. Still cant grasp letting it go. lol

Maximan190

iTrader: (8)

I basically daily drive this car, and as time moves forward parts will likely become more sparse; since mine usually always needs something fixed or replaced it seems, due to age, mileage, normal use... I mean, how much longer are aftermarket companies going to continue to produce VE Cam sensors for example? I just bought one recently and there were actually several choices available

New cars have been improving and making considerable strides lately in performance/value/gas mileage, etc. At times I'm tempted to spring for a newer daily driver being that I don't have the time to continue to be a slave to fixing something on the maxima, even though if something breaks I usually always know what it is. I wouldn't get rid of it though, I'd probably still drive it, but less often. With the suspension and mods I have on it, its pretty much just where I want it. And even for its age it is still a blast to drive, a well packaged car overall in terms of exterior vs interior size, comfortable, no blind spots, so on. I even get the occasional compliment "ohh man I like that body style"

kcidmil

I went to sale mine one day to a coworker and as we drove off on a test drive the wife decided she couldn't sell it. I've dragged it around for 6 years since and she still won't let me sell it.

JvG

I have a 1996 fourth generation. I read your post because it looked interesting. I do all my own work, have for 40 years. You have put 250,000 miles on the car yourself. You have a lot of good memories related to what you did with the car, and who you did it with. You will still have those memories weather you keep the car and fix it up, keep it for yard art, or sell it.


The brakes and suspension can be fixed. It would cost a lot less if you fix it yourself, or find someone to do the work. Still though, at the end of the day you will still have a car with over 300k miles. Other expensive things will go out, one after another. It will get more unreliable.


Even though I do my own work, I prefer to drive a car rather than work on it more than I can drive it.


It is time to let it go. You have gotten your moneys worth from the car, and more. If you decide you still like the 3rd generation Maximas, be on the lookout for a lower mileage, rust free one. They are out there. Spend your money fixing it instead. Enjoy driving it, not working on it.